Three-time Denver Nuggets MVP Nikola Jokic has revealed why he shunned the Nuggets' contract extension offer this summer.
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Although Denver had a semi-lukewarm 50-32 season and found themselves outlasted by the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder's depth in a seven-game semifinal series, Jokic submitted yet another superlative run.
In 2024-25, the 30-year-old became the first big man to ever average a triple-double over the duration of a full season. He averaged 29.6 points while slashing .576/.417/.800, 12.7 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.6 blocks in 70 healthy regular season bouts.
Why didn't Jokic ink a maximum extension this summer?
The 6-foot-11 big man was eligible to ink a lucrative, maximum-salaried deal with Denver, and team governor Josh Kroenke suggested he wanted to pay Jokic as much money as possible.
During his team presser at media day on Monday, Jokic explained his thinking behind that choice.
Nikola Jokic on signing an extension with the Denver Nuggets: “My plan is to be a Nugget forever.” pic.twitter.com/WHykMaiDwB
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) September 29, 2025
"I don't think about it. I think those contract extensions come as a reward, as something that is natural to the sport, especially in today's NBA, you see how the salary cap is building," Jokic said. "My plan is to be a Nugget forever."
Denver has revamped its roster around Jokic this summer. After winning it all in 2023, the Nuggets haven't managed to advance even beyond the second round in the ensuing two seasons.
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So Kroenke fired team president Calvin Booth and head coach Michael Malone late into the 2024-25 regular season. This summer, Kroenke replaced Booth with a two-headed attack via Ben Tenzer and Jonathan Wallace, and swapped in David Adelman — who coached Denver on an interim tag — for Malone.
The Nuggets then underwent some massive personnel changes on the court, too. Denver traded out pricey, oft-hurt starting small forward Michael Porter Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets for cheaper, oft-hurt combo forward Cameron Johnson. The Nuggets also offloaded the contract of unused big man Dario Saric for reliable big man Jonas Valanciunas. Denver also managed to add two veteran guards, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown, on below-market minimum deals.
If Denver can convince Jokic that the team as currently comprised is good enough to win again, presumably he'll be amenable to agreeing to a longer-term deal in the future.
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